The Cedar River is part of the Lake Huron-Erie drainage area and is a tributary to the Tobacco,
Tittabawassee, and Saginaw Rivers. Branches of the Cedar River originate in the southern portion of Roscommon County, eastern Clare County and the northwestern portion of Gladwin County. The watershed drains a surface area of approximately 120,000 acres.
The goal of this project was to restore the environmental integrity and the State’s designated uses of cold-water fishery by reducing the amount of sediment and nutrients that enter into the Cedar River. Identified sources include stream bank erosion sites, road stream crossings and agriculture pollution. Water quality was improved by implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs), which better protect the resources of the river.

The Cedar River is part of the Lake Huron-Erie drainage area and is a tributary to the Tobacco,
Tittabawassee, and Saginaw Rivers. The Cedar River originates in the southern portion of Roscommon County, Eastern Clare County, and the northwestern portion of Gladwin County. The watershed drains a surface area of approximately 120,000 acres. The land use for the Cedar River watershed consists approximately of 15% urban, 60% agriculture, 15% forest/wetland, and 10% recreation and other.
The primary pollutant of concern in the Cedar River watershed is sediment. The goal of this project was to stabilize 5 road-stream crossings using bituminous pavement and water turnouts on approaches to the river, in addition to erosion control fabric, riprap, and check dams to stabilize roadside ditches.

November 1999 - Through this project the District worked with the Saginaw Bay RC&D, the Bay and Saginaw Conservation Districts, and the Farm Service Agency to develop a brochure and host a tour for farmland owners in the Tri-County area to inform them about the economic and environmental benefits of filter strips and the availability of federal support to install them.

Rifle River Watershed Restoration

Arenac

WM

The Rifle River Watershed is located in east central Lower Michigan and is a tributary to Saginaw Bay. It encompasses portions of Arenac and Ogemaw Counties. Due to its high quality natural resource base the Rifle River supports agriculture, forestry, and diverse recreation including fishing, canoeing, hunting, trapping and birding. The Rifle River is being affected by sediment and nutrient enrichment. Identified sources include stream bank erosion, road crossings and agriculture. This project improved water quality by implementing several different Best Management Practices (BMPs) which limit the amount of sediment and nutrients and better protect the Rifle River and its resources.

The Saginaw Bay Watershed includes all or part of 22 counties in east/central Michigan. A Michigan DEQ-SWQD survey identified animal access sites within the watersheds contributing sediment and nutrient loading to the Bay. The goal of the project was to reduce the nutrient loading to the Saginaw Bay caused by livestock access to drains of the watershed.